Hi there to all the members of CP from me over here in the GB. My name is Tim, but ive gone by the nickname Pixi for the last 38 years, so i guess its stuck now!! I found this site by accident last week, and im so glad i did. I have a 56 Ponty Laurentian over here, that is currently undergoing a resto. I have already figured out that most of the running gear is the same as the 55-56 Chevys, and i have replaced all the suspention and steering jionts, aswell as all brake parts and bearings. Chassis has been shot blasted and painted, and most of the welding done to the floor pans and boot area. Im currently overhauling the six cylinder engine, ready to put it back in. Car will not be a minter when finished as i do not have enough money for that, but i also want to use it as a daily driver. Id rather be driving it, than polishing it!! Its a right hand drive model, that left the factory and went to Ceylon (now Sri Lanker). I will read through the paperwork i have with the car again and put some more info on here soon. I hope my photos have been uploaded, so you can see where im up to so far. I have taken some pics of my VIN plates as i know there is a chap on here who can tell me some info about my vehicle from them. Please direct him to these pictures if i have put them in the wrong section. Thanks TIM...
Welcome aboard Tim. Your car looks great. Cool to see a trim tag with "Right Drive" on it! Be sure to spread the word about Canadian Poncho to your fellow U.K Pontiac owners.
Welcome, and great find! Too bad the steering wheel is on the wrong side
WRONG SIDE?? Not if you live over here!!!! Har Har.. The lane outside my cottage is not much wider than the Ponty, so its a big bonus having it on the right side for me......
Welcome aboard mate! Love it when we get to see our beloved Canadian built Pontiacs come on the site along with the pictures. Absolutely fab! Look forward to seeing how it all turns out once you're done your restoration. And it's probably a whole lot better you got the nickname Pixi instead of Puff eh? Nudge nudge, wink wink, now what I mean? Say no more. LOL!
Hi there. Thanks for the info regarding my VIN tag plate. Sorry to be a pain, but is it possible to let me know any more info, such as the date it left the factory, etc..?? Im really keen to trace as much of the cars history as possible. Thanks TIM ....
Wow what a find! Oh, greetings from Southampton by the way to a fellow Brit!
On my database I have details of another Ceylon export car, still there. Serial # 62019D628783 ENGINE # WR53837.
If the engine is original, check the casting date code on the block side. That will give you some idea of when the engine was assembled..Windsor Transmission Plant built 6-cylinder engines to 1962 although the castings were by The McKinnon Industries Ltd in St Catherines, Ontario. So you could allow two weeks between casting and engine assembly and then another two weeks for the installation at Oshawa. Not exact but a ready-reckoner which I have used for the last well, nearly 20 years of studying GM cars and trucks to 1970.
-- Edited by Oracle on Monday 7th of June 2010 05:39:49 PM
__________________
Automotive Historian, Author and Journalist Deputy Editor, VINTAGE ROADSCENE Southampton, England
Wow..another Brit on here!!!! Cheers for the info. Do you think my car would of come out of the Oshawa factory then?? If you look at the rear screen pillar, where i have removed the chrome trim, you can see the original light green paint. It still has the original 6 cylinder engine in, and i;ll check out that casting date tomorrow. Cheers TIM...
this has "tweaked" my interest!!! Now I have a question on right hand drives. What side of the "bell housing" or "clutch housing" does the fork come out?? On left hand drives it comes out the side closest to the driver [left side] Did they make a "special" hsg. for "righties" or run a hydraulic clutch w/slave cyl. to the other side?? Somebody answer this so I can sleep at night HELP ME RHONDA "Day Do Run Run"
__________________
Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
I think it was the former? The engines were 'handed', hence the 'R' prefix. I assume that the carb linkage was all different.
The rhd steering boxes were I think supplied by Saginaw..I gather that the 1958 one was used for a few years. The lhds heater would obviosuly not fit, so it was either a factory delete or a recirculating type was fitted...Smiths of England, who produced instruments etc. produced a heater that was copies and built in South Africa, Australia, etc. by Smiths subsidiaries for local fitment.
__________________
Automotive Historian, Author and Journalist Deputy Editor, VINTAGE ROADSCENE Southampton, England
Welcome aboard Pixidogg, all the way from Alberta. I think you'll find a number of people here that have a wealth of knowledge with regards to your car.
__________________
"So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think... The good outnumber you, and we always will." Patton Oswalt
Welcome from Winnipeg, nice to see Brits on the site. I am a Yorkshire man my self . Born in Halifax but lived in Canada most of my life. Love the car. Keep sending in progres pics .
What I'd really like to see is a car with both left and right drive for those couples that just can't decide who's in change of a trip. Would be a blast to drive!
Welcome to the club! You will learn a lot just by going through old threads never mind the new stuff. (and maybe even get some parts eh?)
